"On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm greetings and felicitations to all fellow citizens," the President said on Monday.

"The festival of Raksha Bandhan symbolises the sacred bond of love, trust and commitment between sisters and brothers. It is an occasion for us to dedicate ourselves to the well-being of women and in particular, the girl child," he said.

"Traditional cultural values of respect for women need to be fully entrenched in our minds," he said.

"May this unique festival inculcate in every member of our society the highest respect for women, as we strive collectively for the prosperity of our people," Mukherjee said.